Census

There are no county or state census records available for Pennsylvania. County and city tax records can be used as a substitute when census records are not available.

Church Records

Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. In Pennsylvania, church records are often used as a substitute for birth, marriage, and death information. For general information about Pennsylvania denominations, view the Pennsylvania Church Records wiki page.

The Monroe County Historical Association has various records for churches throughout the Monroe County area. However, the society has not put the records on-line and to view the records one must go to the society. Finding Church Records at Other Repositories

Additional church records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Monroe County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Church Records in online catalogs like:

Dutch Reformed

The first church in Monroe County was a Dutch Reformed Church, organized in 1737 and called the Old Log Church. It was located in Smithfield.[3]The Smithfield Church was one of the four Dutch Reformed churches built in about 1741 in the area. The other 3 churches were all built on the other side of the Delaware River in Minisink Valley area (Northwestern New Jersey).[4]

1741-1814 - Canfield, Amos. "Records of the Reformed Dutch Church at Smithfield, Pennsylvania," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record,

Lutheran

Methodist

The Delaware Water Gap Methodist Church (also called Dutotsburg) began in 1800.[5]

Presbyterian

The Smithfield Stone Church was erected in 1752 and later became known as the Presbyterian Church in 1853 (Image courtesy of the Monroe County Historical Association). The church welcomed all Protestant denominations. The Church of the Mountain was organized in Delaware Water Gap in 1854.[6]

Reformed

Court Records

Monroe County, Pennsylvania Genealogy court records are housed at the Monroe County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Courthouse. For many counties copies of court records may be found at the Pennsylvania State Archives and in the FamilySearch collection. Note that within these collections some films may contain the same records, but have different titles. Other titles are not duplicates. See Finding Court Records at other repositories within this section for links to the online catalogs for these two collections. Films at the Pennsylvania State Archives are not available for inter-library loan. If court records are available FamilySearch films may be available at a local Family History Center. Call ahead for availability.

Court of Common Pleas

The Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of Pennsylvania. Major civil and criminal cases are heard in these courts. Judges also decide cases involving adoption, divorce, child custody, abuse, juvenile delinquency, estates, guardianships, charitable organizations and many other matters. The Common Pleas courts are organized into 60 judicial districts. Monroe County, Pennsylvania Genealogy County has its own judicial district. Judges of the Common Pleas courts are elected to 10-year terms. A president judge and a court administrator serve in each judicial district.[7]

Clerk of the Court

The Clerk of Courts prepares and maintains the records for the Criminal Division of the Court of Common Pleas. The Clerk signs and affixes the Seal of the Courts to all writs and processes, administers oaths and affirmations, and assumes custody of the seal and records of the Courts. The Clerk certifies and distributes orders of the Court. The Clerk also certifies and prepares bills of costs for the defendants and utilizes the computerized financial management system to disburse fines, costs and restitution.[8] For the Monroe County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Clerk of Courts address see the Courthouse section on this page.

Prothonotary

The office of the Prothonotary is the custodian of all civil matters in the county. This includes naturalization, immigration, equity actions, judgements, federal and local tax liens, city liens, family court, arbitrations, license suspension appeals, appeals to higher court, commercial code filings, applications for passports and divorce proceedings. See the Courthouse section on this page for the Monroe County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Prothonotary office information.

Orphans' Court

See Vital Records The Orphans' Court is responsible for a wide range of matters. The name of the Court is derived from the more general definition of "orphan," that being a person or thing that is without protective affiliation or sponsorship. This would include those not capable of handling their own affairs, minors, incapacitated persons, decedents estates, nonprofit corporations and trusts. It is the role of the Court to ensure that the best interests of the person or entity are not compromised.

It is believed the name of this court was borrowed from the Court of Orphans of the city of London, England which had the care and guardianship of children of deceased citizens, in their minority.[9]

For Monroe County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Orphans' Court contact information see the Courthouse section on this page.

Finding Court Records at Other Repositories

Additional court records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Monroe County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Court Records in online catalogs like:

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic Groups

Germans

Gazetteers

Genealogy

History

Published Histories

Land and Property

Land records in Monroe County began in 1836. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts, indexes, mortgages, leases, grants, sheriff sales, land patents, and maps. Property records include liens as well as livestock brands and estray records.

The following are examples of available resources:

Online Land Records

1958–present Images (since 1958) and an index (since 1979) are available on-line using the Landex system. There is a fee to view the images.

Additional Resources

Note that the "Maps" section below also includes maps related to land ownership.

See Pennsylvania Land and Property for more information about using land records, especially about original land warrants, surveys, and patents filed at the state land office.

Additional resources can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Monroe County Pennsylvania Land in online catalogs such as:

Migration

Military

Naturalization and Citizenship

Naturalization records can contain information about immigration and nativity. Prior to 1906, it is rare to find the town of origin in naturalization records. See Pennsylvania Naturalization for more information about the types of records and availability.

Naturalizations granted at the county level were kept by the office of the Prothonotary. Naturalizations could also be granted on the Federal Court level.

Naturalization records available for Monroe County, Pennsylvania include the following:

Microfilms of the following newspapers can be found in the Kemp Library located on the campus of the East Stroudsburg University. This library is located at 200 Prospect Ave, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania 18301 Phone nunber 570-422-3465. Microfilm copies can be made for a minimal fee. See also Kemp Library at East Stroudsburg University

Obituaries

Obituaries are generally found in local newspapers where the person died. However, sometimes an obituary is found in the location from which he or she originated. To find an obituary, see the information under the Newspaper heading

Sometimes the fastest way of finding obituaries is to call or email the local public library in the area where the person died. If the library does not have newspapers, a librarian often will know where they are kept. If a death date is known, and the newspapers are at the library, someone on staff will usually make a search for a small fee, or will indicate someone who will do the search.

Occupations

Indentured Servants

Periodicals

Poorhouse, Almshouse

Probate Records

Probate matters in Monroe County, Pennsylvania Genealogy are handled by the Orphans' Court and start when the county was created. To obtain original probate records, contact the Orphan's Court in the County Courthouse.

In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates of decedents, incompetents, and minors; appointment and control of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills involving probate matters; inheritance tax appeals and various petitions and motions.

Repositories

Archives

The Monroe County Archives was established in 2005 and is located at One Quaker Plaza, Room 207, Stroudsburg, PA., 18360. The archivist, B.J. (Bette Jo) Bachman, advised that you make an appointment to do research by calling: 570-517-3189. Requests are accepted by mail with an enclosed fee of $5.00 per name, plus a small fee for copies of documents found. The fee must be submitted in the form of a money order payable to the Monroe County Archives. Below is a brief listing of the holdings at the archives[10]:

Records identifying the legal representative of a deceased person's estate

Wills - Inventories

1867-1901 & 1959

Records listing inventory associated with a will

Writs of Execution

1836-1899

Records to seize property of the judgment debtor to satisfy a judgment

Warrantee Data

1836-1940

Traces property ownership

The Pennsylvania Archives collection contains county archive records that can be searched onsite. Currently the Archives' staff cannot provide research or make copies of these records. Their collections include Almshouse Registers; Tax records; Birth, Death and Marriage Indexes and Records; Midwife records; African American records; Wills; Deeds; Naturalizations; Coroner's inquests; and Orphan's Court dockets. A list of the Archive's county holdings are on Microfilm or Manuscript form.

Libraries

Eastern Monroe Public Library, or the Hughes Library is located at 1002 North Ninth Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360. This library has a Local History Room on the second floor. Visit Eastern Monroe Public Library for more information.

A partial listing of their holdings include:

The History of Monroe County and the surrounding areas

Some Family History Books.

Pennsylvania Civil War Conscientous Objectors Database

Access to Ancestory.com and Heritage Quest

All family history books located in the Monroe County Historical Association library are searchable on the public library computers

Western Pocono Community Library is located at 200 Pilgrim Way, Broadheadsville, PA. Phone 570-992-7934.This library has a limited number of family genealogies.They do have microfilm of the records of the Salem Union Church located in Gilbert, Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, for the years 1806-1924. These microfilms are also found in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. To access these films FamilySearch online or through your local family history library.

The Easton Public Library is located at 515 Church Street, Easton, Pa 18042-3597. This library has a dedicated family history research room called The Marx Room. In the Marx Room you will find over 15,000 items of interest to local researchers looking for ancestors who lived in Northampton County prior to the formation of Monroe County in 1836. Click here to learn more about the Easton Public Library Marx Room

The collection includes but is not limited to the following records:

Family History Books

Periodicals

Local Newspapers from 1799 - current

Obituary Indexes

175 Volumes of Northampton County Church and Cemetery Records

Northampton Court Records, Extracts

DAR publications

Vertical Family Files

Museums

The purpose is to promote the history of Barrett Township. The museum has an archives that collects information as well as scans records and returns them to the original owner. Contact the archivist for more information: leeanne@uplink.net.

Societies

The Monroe County Historical Association is housed in the Jacob Stroud Manson at 900 Main Street, Stroudsburg, Pa. 18360. Phone 570 421-7703. Curator: Mrs. Amy Lesher. A reading fee of $5.00 a day is charged for non-members to use the Walters Library. Research requests accepted by mail only. Monroe County Historical Association

A partial listing of the holdings in the Elizabeth D Walters Library are as follows:

Taxation

Vital Records

Vital records are handled by the County Orphans' Court. Between the years 1852-1855 Pennsylvania made a failed attempt to record birth, marriage and death events at the county level. While the records for that time period are available, there were few events recorded. County marriage records were kept in earnest in 1885. Births and deaths, at the county level, were begun in 1893 and kept through 1905. Abstracts and copies of vital records are available for some counties, but most are incomplete. For the most complete set of records, always contact the County Orphans' Court.

Birth

Early births 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. See the heading Court Records on this page for contact information.

Indexes for Pennsylvania birth records are available through the Department of of Health for 1906 and 1907. Once an individual is located in the index a non certified Birth certificate can be obtained by writing and sending $3.00 to:

1725-1976 - Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1709-1940 - free index. Not complete for all years. This index is an electronic database of information. The entries are primarily from the International Genealogical Index (IGI) along with some entries derived from compiled and original records such as: Family Records, Church Records, Civil Registration. It may also include indexes generated by the internet indexing project sponsored by the LDS Church.

Pre-1810 – Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties. Includes 35,000 marriage records from vol. VIII of of the second series of the Pennsylvania Archives.

1885-1950 - Pennsylvania County Marriage, 1885-1950 Extracted marriage records – free. Most of the records consist of marriage licenses, certificates, applications, docket books, and affidavits. This database is incomplete for all counties. May also contain marriage records earlier than 1885.

Divorce

Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary. The office of the Prothonotary is located in the courthouse building.

Death

Early deaths 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. See the heading Court Records on this page for contact information.

Indexes for Pennsylvania death records are available through the Department of Health for 1906 through 1962. Once an individual is located in the index a non certified death certificate can be obtained obtained by writing and sending $3.00 to: